Audiences attending the season’s last theatre production, The Zimmer Girls, will have a starring role.
No line memorization or choreography will be expected from attendees at the world premiere of this musical comedy. Rather the audience’s engagement and reaction will play an important role in determining whether the production goes to New York City.
“Your audiences are about to tell me if there could be a future life for this show, and who knows where it could end up,” said Ed Linderman, the show’s writer and director.
The Zimmer Girls combines the shenanigans of a Marx Brother’s movie and the melodrama of a Gilbert & Sullivan operetta. The story centers on the adventures of three inexperienced Victorian beauties: Zorita, Zelda, and Zena Zimmer as they blossom into womanhood. Linderman also wrote Broadway Jukebox, which NWU performed several years ago. His partnership with NWU was made possible in part by the Pace Woods Foundation.
Performances are scheduled for April 30-May 2 and May 7-9 at 7:30 p.m. with matinee shows on May 3 and May 10 at 2 p.m. All performances will be held in McDonald Theatre.
Linderman has been working on The Zimmer Girls for the past 35 years. He turned to long-time friend and NWU theatre professor Jack Parkhurst when it came time to bring it to the stage.
“It is rare that this kind of opportunity is afforded to university students,” said Parkhurst. “For the students to be able to workshop a production and to see what works and what does not work is a great learning experience.”
Students started reading lines in November and have spent the spring semester rehearsing early in the morning and late at night alongside NWU theatre professors. Linderman and a New York City choreographer joined them a few times throughout the semester to help bring the characters to life.
“For years, this story, these songs, the Zimmer Girls have all been inside my head,” said Linderman. “They’re about to finally come to life on stage because of the NWU theatre program, and the risk that the faculty are taking that the show will be entertaining as well as a valuable learning experience for all the students.”
Cast members have enjoyed the opportunities and challenges of seeing a show come together from development to showtime.
“It hasn’t fully hit that Nebraska Wesleyan is the first theatre to be doing this production,” said Elizabeth Fichthorn, a junior musical theatre major from Lincoln. “The best part is that this is the first time the characters get to live and breathe. The way we do the roles and ensemble is the first time an audience will get to experience it.”
“Words can’t describe exactly how premiering a new work feels,” added Wynston Nowak, a senior musical theatre major from Ogallala. “I’ve been fortunate enough to work on a few new works in my time here at NWU, however nothing quite like Zimmer Girls. This has been such a unique experience with a lot of new challenges and opportunities.”
When the cast finishes its eight performances in May, they’ll wait patiently to hear if The Zimmer Girls will picked up by Broadway producers.
“The Broadway musical Godspell began its life and journey at Carnegie Mellon University,” said Linderman. “It would be nice if The Zimmer Girls could go on a similar adventure, having begun at Nebraska Wesleyan University.
“All of our fingers are crossed, and here’s hoping we’ll succeed,” he added. “Now I hope it will be a worthy project that the University will value, and that the students will be thrilled to be part of.”
Tickets for The Zimmer Girls are $15 for adults, $10 for seniors, $7.50 for students. To purchase tickets, visit theatre.nebrwesleyan.edu or reserve them by calling the box office at 402.465.2384.